Niagara Fall Fun Guide for Families

Top Family Activities In Niagara For Kids of All Ages

Families · Wander Niagara

Children riding a barrel train past the white chapel at the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival

Fall is the perfect time for a fun-filled family getaway to Niagara. Whether you've got little ones who can't yet walk, toddlers who are eager to start exploring, grade schoolers overflowing with enthusiasm to learn something new, or older kids you're trying to entice away from their screens, Niagara's got age-appropriate options that will make the trip an absolute blast for everyone!

Here are some of the best ways to spend a fall day with the family in Niagara.

Baby-Friendly Ways To Spend A Fall Day

Paved trails make autumn exploring easy for families with little ones still in the stroller stage. The Welland Canal Trail is an excellent option, with plenty of sights for parents to take in along the way. Stop for a mid-walk visit and picnic at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre. If you prefer to bring baby along in a sling or pack, Niagara offers several lovely walking trails that aren't too rugged or steep. Grab an iced coffee at Bright Pours Cafe and just stroll across the street to hop on the tree-lined Merritt Trail, which follows the historic path of the first, second, and third Welland Canals and Twelve Mile Creek. Calamus Estate Winery has beautiful walking trails that visitors are encouraged to explore.

Toddler-Approved Autumn Activities

A ride on the historic Lakeside Park Carousel is a rite of passage for kids in Niagara! Get there for your five-cent ride before things shut down for the season on Thanksgiving Monday. While you're nearby, head over to Happy Rolph's Animal Farm, also open through Thanksgiving weekend. Little ones will love interacting with friendly farm animals and feeding the waterfowl paddling happily in the onsite ponds.

Introducing toddlers to the fresh flavours of harvest season in Niagara is a fun activity to schedule around snacktime! Visit the St. Catharines farmers market on Thursdays and Saturdays, or explore the roadside stands and farms dotted along the CultivATE Taste Trail, which winds its way through the Niagara Benchlands.

Farm animals at Happy Rolph's Animal Farm

Action-Packed Autumn Adventures For Grade Schoolers

Niagara's fall festivals offer all kinds of fun for families with kids who love to get in on the action and try new things. September's Niagara Grape & Wine Fall Festival wraps up with a final day featuring special activities for kids that include a Pied Piper Parade where children are invited to dress up in costumes and join a spirited procession through Montebello Park. There's also a Telus Family Fun Zone with inflatable games, face painting, hands-on crafts, and a wide range of kid-friendly activities.

In early October, the Cicada Music and Arts Festival is a family-friendly event that welcomes guests of all ages, with free admission for children ages 12 and under and discounted tickets for youth ages 12-17. Talk about a fun way to introduce the kids to incredible performers like Metric, Bahamas, Hawksley Workman, and more!

On Thanksgiving weekend, the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival is a can't-miss event for families with a variety of kid-friendly activities including face painting, train rides, birds-of-prey demonstrations, magic shows, historical tours, and more.

Kids this age will also enjoy having a hands-on harvest experience, like:

Picking your own pears at Cherry Avenue Farms in September
Choosing the perfect pumpkin for Halloween carving at Romagnoli Farms' two Beamsville markets
Taking the Discover Maple Tour at White Meadows Farms for a sweet lesson in how maple syrup is made
Participating in one of The Watering Can's one-hour fall workshops designed for children up to the age of 10.

A young child riding a pony at a fall festival in the Niagara Benchlands

Screen-Free Fall Fun For Tweens and Teens

Finding engaging activities that will help the older kids forget all about their devices is easy in Niagara. Here are just a few ideas that the kids will never see coming:

Enjoy a retro film together at The Film House, like 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Get in the Halloween spirit on a Haunted Walking Tour of historic Jordan Village.
Rent an illuminated clear-bottom kayak and explore Jordan Harbour by moonlight.
Go on a family hunt to track down Niagara's best buttertart by making stops at 13th Street Winery's Bakery, Beamsville Bakery, Tay's Treats, and Blossom Bakery.

Discover even more ideas for your family's autumn adventures in the Niagara Benchlands and St. Catharines in our full Fall family activities page and by browsing our Culinary, Farms and Markets, Arts and Action, Play Outside, Culture, and Stay pages.

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Getting Here

Illustrated map of St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands along Lake Ontario — from Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan in the west to Port Dalhousie and downtown St. Catharines in the east, with the QEW, the Bruce Trail, the Waterfront Trail and the wine route marked.

St. Catharines and the Benchlands are an easy drive from across the Golden Horseshoe — and you can leave the car at home: GO Transit runs train and bus service to St. Catharines.

Toronto1 hr 15 min · via QEW
Hamilton30 min · via QEW
Buffalo, NY45 min · via QEW / Peace Bridge
Niagara Falls20 min · via QEW

Niagara Benchlands

Explore the stunning Niagara Benchlands, a haven for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With over 50 craft wineries dotting its steep slopes, orchards, and rural villages, this region boasts award-winning wines and breathtaking landscapes. Discover local markets, hidden shops, and rich history all amidst a food lover's paradise shaped by the unique climate and terroir of the area. Perched on the Niagara Escarpment, the Benchlands offer a wealth of natural wonders, including the renowned Bruce Trail and UNESCO Biosphere.

St. Catharines

Nestled in Ontario's picturesque Niagara Region, St. Catharines is a vibrant destination that perfectly blends culinary excellence, a thriving craft beverage scene, rich cultural experiences, and abundant outdoor activities. Savour farm-to-table delights at local restaurants, explore renowned wineries and craft breweries, and immerse yourself in the arts at theatres and galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy scenic parks, hiking the Bruce Trail, and water sports in the historic waterfront neighbourhood of Port Dalhousie. Whether you're a foodie, wine lover, culture aficionado, or adventure seeker, St. Catharines offers something for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is St. Catharines and the Benchlands?

St. Catharines and the Benchlands is the stretch of West Niagara between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario, anchored by St. Catharines and Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan and Port Dalhousie. St. Catharines, a vibrant city filled with craft breweries, a thriving culinary scene, boutique shopping, and live entertainment. From historic downtown streets to waterfront trails along Lake Ontario, St. Catharines is Niagara’s urban playground, perfect for foodies, art lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Just minutes away, the Niagara Benchlands await with Ontario’s largest concentration of wineries, lush orchards, craft breweries, and a UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere. Home to over 50 award-winning wineries, farm-to-table dining, and scenic hiking and cycling routes, this region is a haven for wine lovers and nature seekers.

When is the best time to see fall leaf colours in St. Catharines and the Benchlands?

Fall is one of the best times to visit St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands. The Niagara Escarpment turns red, orange, and gold, and the vineyards turn gold. You can see fall colours all October and into early November. Colour is usually strongest in mid to late October. Niagara changes later than most of Ontario because Lake Ontario keeps the region warmer.

How far is St. Catharines and the Benchlands from Toronto?

About 90 minutes on the QEW. St. Catharines is roughly 110 km from downtown Toronto, with Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan a few minutes closer. GO Transit serves St. Catharines for those that prefer transit. Only 90 minutes from Toronto makes it one of the easiest summer day trips outside of the city, and a great place to stay the night too.

How far is St. Catharines and the Benchlands from Niagara Falls?

St. Catharines is about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, and Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan are about 30 minutes. Many visitors stay near the Falls and spend a day here, or stay in St. Catharines and the Benchlands to skip the crowds.

Where should I stay in St. Catharines and the Benchlands?

The St. Catharines and the Benchlands is home to chic boutique inns, cozy farm stays, lakeside retreats with unforgettable views, and everything in between. Inn On The Twenty in Jordan Village is the boutique wine country pick, with a spa and restaurant on site. Our you can explore the many unique short term rental stays. St. Catharines has the region’s largest selection of hotels, all within 20 minutes of Beamsville’s wineries and Port Dalhousie’s waterfront.

What is there to do in St. Catharines and the Benchlands besides wineries?

A lot! Live theatre at the Foster Festival in St. Catharines, craft beer at one of the many local breweries, dining at Michelin-star restaurants, hiking and waterfalls at Ball’s Falls and along the Bruce Trail above Beamsville, the beach at Charles Daley Park, ship-watching at Lock 3 on the Welland Canal, Underground Railroad history at Salem Chapel, u-pick cherry and peach farms, farmers markets in both St. Catharines and Beamsville, and free rides on the 1898 Lakeside Park Carousel. And so much more.

Are there free events in St. Catharines and the Benchlands this fall?

Yes! Fling off King in Beamsville is free, and so is the Hallowe’en Candy Trail in downtown St. Catharines. Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm is also free, and carousel rides at Lakeside Park cost five cents.

Is St. Catharines and the Benchlands good for families?

Very. Heritage Days at Ball’s Falls, the Lakeside Park Carousel and beach in Port Dalhousie, Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm, u-pick farms from Vineland to Beamsville, Ribfest’s family programming, and freighter-watching at Lock 3 all work for kids, and most are free or nearly free.

When is peach season in Niagara and the Benchlands?

Peaches peak in August. The farm markets and u-pick orchards along King Street between Vineland and Beamsville, including Peach Country Farm Market and Cherry Avenue Farms, are at their best mid-August.